So far, users are currently five times less likely to be running Windows 8 as they were Windows 7 at the same point before its launch. The new statistics come from research firm Net Applications and indicate a lukewarm reception of the Windows 8 operating system by consumers.

Windows 7 was a follow-up to Windows Vista, which was one of the more maligned versions of Microsoft's operating system in recent years. Windows 7 lured many upgraders not only from Vista, but from the older XP operating system as well. Windows 8 doesn't have the luxury of following an unloved version of Windows like Windows 7.

The statistics offered by Net Applications only count computer users who installed preview versions of Windows 8 and preview versions of Windows 7. The statistics are believed to provide a clear indication of consumer interest in the operating system rather than a desire or need for new computer hardware.

In September, only 0.33% of all computers using Windows relied on Windows 8. That works out to 33 out of every 10,000 Windows machines using Windows 8. By the end of September 2009, with very similar time remaining before the launch of Windows 7, the operating system accounted for 1.64% of all Windows PCs working out to 164 out of every 10,000 units.

Analysts are beginning to believe that Microsoft won't see the uptick in OS sales that it hoped for with Windows 8. Gartner recently advised clients that it predicts the operating system would top out at only 20 to 25% share in the corporate environment.

but it would still be a shrinking niche. Only now is that stuff solidly in TV's, and only android is making headways with certain tv manufacturers, because it's free probably (apple TV and set top boxes are a niche, apple always says it's their pet project). It's just a tough marriage, coming from a computing side, and trying to merge it into another companies' manufacturing side. That's probably the challenge, and that's probably why Win never had their own phone or tablet, etc.

Nevertheless I agree, it's a lack of commitment, though I wish this uphill battle would have significant results for those that are fighting it. I want serious headway made here by such players, but I do realize it's an uphill battle for them, that most don't have the stomach for. Think about TV's and set top boxes. 90% of people use the boxes their providers give them, and TV's are purchased every few years, and they're not very update friendly, they end up connecting them again, to whatever they happen to subscribe to, or maybe a console. The rise of the smarter console is also to blame here haha. They too can offer many of those services. So again, it's a dying niche. They should update it in a serious way for the Xbox maybe. Get the market that way, then offer their own set top boxes and spin it off into tv integration.